Harvard vs. Holy Cross

Deciding between Harvard University and College of the Holy Cross? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
College of the Holy Cross

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Holy Cross Worcester, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Holy Cross Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Holy Cross 3,126
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Holy Cross Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Holy Cross #79
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Holy Cross Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Holy Cross Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Holy Cross

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Holy Cross $64,500
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Holy Cross $18,820
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Holy Cross $36,014
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Holy Cross $44,334
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Holy Cross 57%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Holy Cross 9,568
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Holy Cross 1,685
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Holy Cross 17.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Holy Cross 49.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Holy Cross 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Holy Cross 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Holy Cross -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Holy Cross -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Holy Cross Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Holy Cross 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Holy Cross 1240/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Holy Cross Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Holy Cross 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Holy Cross
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • History (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Holy Cross 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Holy Cross $80,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Holy Cross 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Holy Cross $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Holy Cross $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Holy Cross 46%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Holy Cross 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Holy Cross Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Holy Cross No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Holy Cross 70%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Holy Cross 5%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Holy Cross 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Holy Cross 10%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Holy Cross 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Holy Cross 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Holy Cross 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Holy Cross 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Holy Cross 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Holy Cross 60%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Holy Cross No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Holy Cross Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Holy Cross No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Holy Cross No

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,126 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); College of the Holy Cross is in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of the Holy Cross is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; College of the Holy Cross 9:1.

Harvard vs. Holy Cross Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Holy Cross? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Holy Cross ($17,525 vs. $36,014).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Holy Cross are 11.2% lower than at Harvard University ($18,820 vs. $21,190).
  • College of the Holy Cross is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $2,824 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at Holy Cross than at Harvard University (about $2,824 more per year; $64,500.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Holy Cross than at Harvard University (57% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 53.4% larger than aid received by College of the Holy Cross students ($68,015 vs. $44,334).

Harvard vs. Holy Cross Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Holy Cross? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Holy Cross and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 220 points higher than at Holy Cross (1330).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at Holy Cross).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; College of the Holy Cross 1240/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; College of the Holy Cross 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Holy Cross - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Holy Cross Jan 15, 2027.
  • Holy Cross has a higher acceptance rate (17.6%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 49.6% at Holy Cross.

Harvard vs. Holy Cross Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Holy Cross? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than College of the Holy Cross's (91%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $56,300 more per year than Holy Cross graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $80,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $21,000 lower median loan debt than Holy Cross graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $217 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Holy Cross graduates ($67 vs. $284).
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.